Milton claek



(No Model.) 3 sheets-$115 31; 1.

M. CLARK. STORE SERVIGE SYSTEM.

N0. 309,19 Patented Dec. 16, 1884,

WITNESSES:

IN VEN TOR (No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 2.

M. CLARK. v

STORE SERVICE SYSTEM. No. 309,197. I Patented Dec. 16, 1884.

WITNESSES INVENTOR- Q a /u ATTORNE a ographor. Washingtnn. 0.0.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M. CLARK.

STORE SERVICE SYSTEM.

No. 809.197. Patented Dec. 16, 1884.

WITNES$ES IN VEN TOR Q 7 GYM @MQ reference marked thereon, which form part of matically giving to said .car an impetus and mechanism for automatically returning such Unirnn Smarts Parana? tries.

MILTON CLARK, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y.

STORE SERVICE eve-rein.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,197, dated December'lG, 1884.

Application filed August 13, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON CLARK, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service Systems; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of this specification.

My invention relates to cash and parcel carrying systems for stores; and it consists, broadly, in a single forwardingtrack for all the stations of each counter, individual return tracks or ways inclined in direction opposite to that of the forwarding-track, means or devices for elevating the ear above and to a position at an incline with the forwarding-track, for autodelivering it upon said forwarding-track,

delivering devices to their primitive positions, wire-tighteners for taking up the slack in the tracks or ways, and in such other details as will hereinafter be distinctly described.

Referring to the annexed sheets of drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents in side elevation a system, constructed and arranged in accord ance with my invention. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a plan view thereof. Figs. 3, 4, and5are views in enlarged detail, respectively, of the elevating and delivering devices and the tightening devices.

A single forwardingtrack is employed for each counter, the same being made,to take in all the stations of the respective counter to which it belongs. This forwardingtrack, being secured at the point farthest from the cashiers desk, is inclined in the direction of such desk at a degree sufficient to cause the car, when delivered thereto, to descend by gravity. The manner of supporting this forwarding-track is by rods depending from the ceiling at each station of the counter to which said track belongs. 1 i

For the return of the car to the clerk after having been forwarded to the cashier, I employ separate and individual tracks or ways,

inclined in opposite direction to the forwarding-track. The terminals of these tracks are secured to the same depending supports to which the iorwardingtrack is secured, these supports being sufficiently far away from the heads of the clerks, and the cars being caused to descend by the devices hereinafter described.

Reference being had to the several parts by letter, A represents the cashiers desk, and B the counters, having one or more stations.

0 represents the main forwarding-track, that is suspended at one end from one of the supports, a, depending from the ceiling, and is in clined toward the cashiers desk, where its other end is secured to a support, a, above his head, the said track, however, being supported by suitable attachment to each of the rods a, which are in its path.

D represents the tracks or ways for the return of the car 2 to the clerk, which are inclined in direction opposite to the forwardingtrack, and are secured at their terminals to the supports a at the clerks ends and a support, a, above the head of the cashier.

On the supports a above the forwardingtrack, at gradually-increasing height proportional to the difference in the incline of such track as it recedes from the cashiers desk, are located the devices I employ, on which to place the car to elevate it above the forward ing-track automatically, giving it an initial impetus by which it operates the device for delivering it upon the track, whence itis carried forward to the cashier. The devices consist of a straight bar, I), having end portions, 1), by which it is made to set out somewhat from the line of the forwarding-track,

hinged extension is attached one end of acord or other flexible media, 0, which is passed upwardlyover a pulley, d, having its hearing in a small upright or standard, (2, ex-

tending upwardly from the bar I) at its rear end, as shown. These bars can be turned upon the supports a in any direction, but when adjusted to the position or directions desired are secured against movement. The free end of cord 0 hangs down to within reach of the operator, and is provided with a weighted handle, as shown. WVhen the clerk desires to forward a car, he elevates the end of cord 0 to allow itsbight to descend,whereupon he places the car on the cord, then elevates it by pulling the cord downwardly. This tightens the cord and gives to its portion between the pulley d and the extension I) an incline, causing the car to run down upon the jointed arm or extension, depressing it by its weight to rest upon the track, and the said car is thus transferred or delivered upon the way. As soon asthe car is delivered the spring b restores the hinged arm to its former position. The bars I) may be clamped either attheir ends to the supports a,(see Fig.

bination with others serving to comprise the present complete system, they being the broad subject-matter of another application filed by me. They consist of a support or bar similar to the bar I), a cord, 0, kept taut by a counterweight, and when the car descends the track it depresses the cord and sinks to within reach of the clerk.

At the cashiers end the tracks or ways are secured to tightening devices, which consist of a clamp, E, secured to the rod a, a screwthreaded arm, 9, hinged thereto, as at g, and an angle-arm, h, which is borne on the end of the arm and itself bears a pulley, 1', around which the track is passed, thus avoiding sharp bending and consequent rupture, and is then secured by twisting, as shown. At each side of the arm on the bolt is a nut, 1 l, the operation of taking up slack in the track being by moving thenuts on the rod g, which thereby carries with them the angle-arm. By virtue of the joint 5/ the ti ghtener can be turned in either direction in which it is desired to extend the track.

Adjustable mechanism may be employed for varying the incline of the track, such devices, however, not having been herein represented.

The operation of my invention will be thoroughly understood from the foregoing description, and I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the particular devices herein shown, for while I have described certain constructions and arrangements as very material, departures can be made therefrom which would come under the scope of my invention, it being my object and intention to claim, broadly, the invention herein set forth.

The general subject-matter of receiving the conveyer from a track and restoring it to the same track from which it was received is not claimed herein broadly, as that forms the subject of an application now pending.

Having described my invention,what I claim 1. A store-service system consisting of a single forwarding-track for all the stations of a counter, and individual return-tracks for each counter or station, substantially as described.

2. In astore-service system, the combination of a single forwardingtraek for all-the stations of a counter, supported at each station and inclining toward the cashiers desk, separate and individual return-tracks inclined oppositely to the forwarding-track, and acar adapted to travel such tracks, substantially as described.

8. In a store-service system, the combination,with a main forwarding-track, of suitable means whereby the car is elevated above the track, given an initial impetus, and automatically transferred or delivered upon the track, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a main forwarding track inclined toward the cashier, and individual return-tracks inclined oppositely thereto, suitable means whereby the car is elevated above the forwardingtrack and automatically delivered upon it, and also means at the end of the rcturn-tracks whereby the car is automatically lowered to within reach of the operator, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a single inclined forwarding-track for all the stations of a counter, supports at each station to which it is attached, and automatic devices located on said supports above the track for elevating the car, giving it an initial impetus and delivering it upon the track, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the inclined forwardin g-track, individual oppositely-inclined return-tracks, depending supports to which they are all attached, the elevating and delivering devices clamped to said supports and consisting of the bar I), hinged jointed extension 1;, spring 11', cord 0, and pulley d, and the re ceiving devices for the car at the end of the return-tracks, all substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the forwardingtrack and supports a, of the bar I), hinged jointed extension a, spring bearing against said extension, cord 0, and pulley d, all substantially as described.

8. The combination,with the tracks or ways of a store-service,- of a supporting-bar, the clamp E, a screw-threaded arm hinged to said clamp, the angle-arm carrying a pulley,

and adjusting-nuts, all substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the track or wa; of a store-service system, of adjustable devices for keeping them taut, the same bearing a pulley round which the terminal of the Way is passed and then secured, all substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 10 my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILTON CLARK.

\Vitnesses:

EDWARD E. Ennis, M. I. Quintin 

